Gregory Maguire has become synonymous with fairytales revisited. Readers already know the story; they love Maguire's work for his re-imagining of established characters and events, adding fresh spin to a familiar tale. Maguire often turns the story on its head by examining the "villain's" point of view; in the process, sometimes rehabilitating them. Historical fiction buffs like his injection of real historical characters (e.g., Lucrezia Borgia as Snow White's Wicked Queen). His prose is beautifully surreal, giving his novels an impressionistic feel -- but like the originals of many of these tales, darkness always lurks. Start with: Wicked

Gregory Maguire has become synonymous with fairytales revisited. Readers already know the story; they love Maguire's work for his re-imagining of established characters and events, adding fresh spin to a familiar tale. Maguire often turns the story on its head by examining the "villain's" point of view; in the process, sometimes rehabilitating them. Historical fiction buffs like his injection of real historical characters (e.g., Lucrezia Borgia as Snow White's Wicked Queen). His prose is beautifully surreal, giving his novels an impressionistic feel -- but like the originals of many of these tales, darkness always lurks. Start with: Wicked